At UPR 44 and UPR 45, twelve states accepted recommendations to end corporal punishment of children in all settings, while three states rejected recommendations to prohibit this form of violence against children.

During its 55^th and 56^th sessions held in 2024, the Human Rights Council adopted the final working group reports for the 44^th and 45^th session of the Universal Periodic Review. The reports included states’ formal responses to all recommendations extended during the reviews. States can either accept or ‘note’ UPR recommendations.

Bangladesh, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Jordan, Monaco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tuvalu and Uzbekistan accepted recommendations to prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings of their lives. Cameroon and Mexico accepted specific recommendations to prevent and combat corporal punishment of children.

In its response, Monaco stated that corporal punishment was already explicitly prohibited under existing laws. The Government cited a legislation of 2021 which prohibits corporal punishment of students in and around all schools.

Cuba was examined during UPR session 44. Although no recommendations on corporal punishment of children were made, the Government declared that “Corporal punishment, humiliating treatment and the use of inappropriate forms of discipline [were] prohibited”. Note: The Cuban Family Code 2022 prohibits corporal punishment of children in the home. However, legislation does not yet fully and explicitly prohibit corporal punishment in schools.

Canada partially supported a recommendation to amend its Criminal Code to remove the existing authorization of the use of “reasonable force” in disciplining children. The Government added: “There are ongoing initiatives that consider the question of the use of minor corrective force on children, but no current plans to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code.”

Azerbaijan, Belize and Malaysia noted (rejected) recommendations to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings. In its response, the Government of Malaysia stated: “Malaysia does not share the view that equates torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment with corporal punishment which is a legal form of punishment and strictly applied in Malaysia”.

Despite the ongoing legality of corporal punishment in Burkina Faso, China, Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia, no recommendations on the issue were made to them. Nevertheless, the four states supported general recommendations to strengthen the protection of children against violence.

Examples of some of the accepted recommendations:

To Bangladesh:

“Adopt legislation to explicitly prohibit and prevent corporal punishment everywhere" (Estonia)

To Djibouti:

“Amend the Criminal Code and the Code on the Legal Protection of Minors to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment in law in all settings" (Portugal)

"Amend the Criminal Code and the Code on the Legal Protection of Minors to explicitly prohibit by law corporal punishment in all areas" (Costa Rica)

"Conduct the necessary reforms to prohibit by law corporal punishment against children in all areas" (Mexico)

To Mexico:

“Redouble its efforts to make progress in preventing and punishing offences against children and adolescents, such as online sexual exploitation, corporal punishment and the use of humiliating treatment as a punishment" (Poland)

The 57^th session of the Human Rights Council is currently underway. We will publish the outcomes of the final working group reports for the Universal Periodic Review 46 as soon as they are made available.

Find out more:

• Visit our page on the Universal Periodic Review for more information on the review process
• See also the individual country reports of states reviewed in the 44^th session:  Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Germany, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and Uzbekistan.
• In the 45^th session:  Belize, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Jordan, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nigeria, Senegal and Saudi Arabia.